Opoczno, 8 December 1929
My devoted and beloved brother, as well as nephew, and niece,
I received your dear letter of encouragement eight days ago. I
have already read your letter 6-8 times. I can't satiate myself
with reading what you write. In addition to finding a a devoted
brother in you, a devoted nephew, you are my only comforter who
always delights in encouraging me when I find myself in a time
of trouble, may G-d forbid.
As to your writing me that your back still hurts and that you
have to write your letter lying down, I hope that, by the time
my letter reaches you, you will be completely well. I suspect
that the pain originates with your lifting something heavy or
from an awkward jump (off the truck). In any event, so long as
it is not pneumonia, I am more than certain that the pain will
pass with the help of G-d.
Now, my devoted brother, as to your encouraging me to be
steadfast and to withstand everything and to take everything in
stride, so I write you, my devoted one, that on a personal level
I am a weakling. However, you know what, Sol? When trouble is
involved, I am a giant, a hero, one of the men of might. I
doubt whether another person in my place would be able to
withstand all the troubles, all the calamities, that befall me
and my household, may G-d forbid them. How much do you think my
Balcia's illness has affected my health recently, Sol? Ten days
ago, I was in Lodz, and although she is not worse, chas
v'cholilah, than when she left the hospital, she is far from
being well. So, for example, she cannot eat. Her digestive
system won't accept any food, and if she does eat something, she
vomits. She has become quite gaunt; she has lost over twelve
kilograms (thirty pounds) in weight. The doctors say that she
has a nervous stomach, and she has been so weakened from not
eating that she is completely enervated. I no longer have any
strength and have become weary of doctors. This is an illness,
may G-d forbid it, that should not be inflicted on us... Each
person who come gives us a different opinion. One says she
needs fresh air; another prescribes nourishment. You know what,
Sol? I say nothing. I am still accepting it all with love.
It's possible that my measure (of trouble) is still not full...
Just imagine, Sol, my Balcia was to be my co-worker to earn a
livelihood. She was to go to Toronto and help to extricate us
from our difficult situation, and (then) such an illness takes
place, may G-d forbid it. G-d knows how long it will take until
she is fully recovered. I have had no correspondence recently
with Toronto. I turned all of that over to Aunt Malke.
Recently, Berish "overwhelmed" us with a $6 gift to his sister.
The money was sent to my address. At that time, I was in
Opoczno. I managed it so that, by the time I returned to Lodz,
the money was on its way back to Welland. I'm pleased because
of it, but Aunt Malke is aggravated because her brother will
feel insulted by what I did. Write whether I did the right
thing or not. [An aside] Six dollars is barely enough for one
visit by the doctor.
Now, my devoted one, you will ask me what is the
"accomplishment" in my leaving a sick daughter at home,
departing from home and being in Opoczno. So, I write to you,
my dear and devoted brother, even though I have already
described all my plans in my earlier letter. Nevertheless, now
I write to you again that as far as I have determined during my
whole life, I have not identified among all those with whom I
came in contact more than two friends. You are one, my devoted
one, and the second is Uncle Lazer. To be sure, only you and I
know everything that you have done for me. Then again, Uncle
Lazer, whom you know something of, treats me with extraordinary
affection. He would, in so far as he is able, like to establish
me on a firm base. He says to me, "In Lodz, I can't help you,
either materially or financially, because in Lodz my capital is
like a drop in the ocean. To the contrary, come here to
Opoczno; you'll live with us, eat with us. You'll avoid the
torment. You'll be sure of enough to eat."
If I didn't know Uncle Lazer, I wouldn't believe that he is
speaking honestly, from his pure, truthful heart. I would have
to be in doubt about what he says. However, I know Uncle Lazer
very well. In recent years, our friendship has been so great
that we are prepared to offer our lives for each other. I'll
give you a small example of his loyalty to me. At the very time
when he was going to open the store, he was in Lodz. Seeing me
come home from the factory at 9:00 in the evening, dirty and
sweaty, he said, "Wolf, this is not for you. I am going to open
the store, and you will come to Opoczno." I thought it
preferable for him to hire a young woman, a salesperson. For
example, I mentioned his own sister who would be suitable to
work in the store. However, he persisted with his own view.
Immediately after the store was opened, he wrote two letters to
me. He offered me $4 a week, exactly the same as I was making
in the factory in Lodz. I answered, "No, brother-in-law, I
can't demand more than $3 a week, naturally with board. And,
after I work for a period of time, we'll see whether it makes
sense for both of us."
To be brief, I remained here. For the time being, we are both
satisfied. The business is a small one in a small town.
However, it's becoming established. We sit all day and night
and deliberate on what to do so that Uncle Lazer will remain
here in place as a baker because, of the eleven Jewish bakers,
six have been closed, sealed. And they have ordered the
(remaining) five to mechanize, to remodel. I don't have to
explain to you that the bakers who will remain in place will,
clearly, do well because the local competition is closed up.
In any event, if I am not presenting you with Polish fantasies,
one can predict that this will be a secure business with a
secure existence. It seems to me in no other business would my
money be as secure as with Uncle (Lazer). With another partner,
even if I were to secure myself with the best protection, it
would not be safe, whereas with Uncle Lazer I don't need any
protection; his word is as good as gold. In addition, I am just
as interested as he himself is that he should remain in place as
a baker.
As to your writing, devoted brother, that your wife, upon
reading my letter, remarked that she would deal with me
differently than you, I write that it is possible that your wife
is more philanthropic than you, and I thank her very much for
her tender heartedness and for her delicate feelings and for the
good opinion of me. In many situations, it happens that a wife
really restrains her husband from loaning money or giving money
away, and this itself, devoted Sol, gives me the courage to
express the best opinion of your dear wife.
However, just as eager as one is to live, I am eager to speak to
you at some point face to face because, as much as I set
everything forth on paper, it's really not possible to explain
the extent to which your uncle does not want to go through your
pockets and to extract money. Devoted brother, you write that
you are prepared to send me $300!!! Another person in my
situation would have said, "First of all, take. If the other
fellow wants to give, why are you silent? Why are you sitting
with folded hands?" As for me, Sol, I see the situation quite
differently. First of all, I don't do anything that has not
been thought out in advance. Second, as I have already written
to you in my earlier letter, I don't want to take the money into
my hands but only through Uncle Lazer. Third, we don't need the
money yet, but only your word of honor that, when it's needed,
you will be ready with it.
Further, dear Sol, from my point of view I would also ask you to
write a letter to Uncle Lazer with all the details as to the
nature of the conditions under which you are sending the money,
and you should also express your opinion as to (my) moving to
Opoczno. It seems to me, Sol, that the calculation is not bad.
My wife is not exactly most happy with my current plan. She
prefers either Lodz or that we should immigrate to Canada or to
Argentina. However, dear Sol, I would never try to do business
in Lodz with your money because Lodz is 100% crooked. Lodz is
looking for such "pigeons", such unlucky bunglers, such
unfortunate ones as I am. And what would the result be?...
Then again, to emigrate would cost $1,000. Where does one find
such a sum?
So, rather than squandering such amounts to no purpose, my plan
is preferable...to move to a small town where the pace of life
is slow, with minimal demands, with small expenses. I selected
a large city primarily on account of my children, so that when
they grew up they would be educated and would be able to earn a
living. When all is said and done, it appears that my children
are not strong enough to go to work. This is the result of the
war...
In a word, dear Sol, I have already written you of and about
everything. I hope that you will reflect upon and carefully
read what I have written. We on our side think a great deal
about whether the decree respecting the mechanization of the
bakeries will be revoked. However, in case, chas v'cholilah, it
is not, we ask you, dear and devoted Sol, not to be unresponsive
to the situation but rather to be helpful to us with advice and
deeds. For the time being, we require nothing of you other than
your promise. And if the time comes, it should be in accord
with our understanding.
Now, devoted brother, write me how you are feeling and how
business is. Write me what your balance sheet looked like for
the year of 1929 and whether you are already living in your new
home. In the event you are, may you live there in good fortune.
How many rooms do you have? Did you at least allow yourself
(the pleasure of) furnishing it with nice furniture? How is
your dear wife? Is she well? Give her my heartfelt regards.
How is your dear son, Leonard, feeling? Tell him on my behalf
that he should not cough any more because, here in Poland, we
(have to) "cough" quite a bit until we are able to see a zloty
before our eyes. How are your in-laws? Give them regards from
all of us as well as from the Rubinek family. They saw your
son's photograph and shouted out, "This is a grandchild of Aunt
Bronye." How is your father? Heartfelt regards for Ruchele,
Bryndl and her husband and dear son. Regards to Rifchele (and)
to the whole family without exception.
How is the weather there? I read in the newspaper that sixty
people in Chicago were frozen to death. Do you have such cold
weather there??? Here it is December 8, and the weather is
mild. We have not had any snow. The season (for cold weather
business) is already over in Lodz. There is already talk of new
bankruptcies. There is no special news here with us. In our
family, everything is as it has been except that Aunt Chaya
Rifke's youngest daughter, Feyge, or "Feygeshe," was married.
Several weeks ago, Aunt Dina Raisel's youngest daughter left for
Palestine. Now she writes that her parents and a sister should
get ready; she wants to bring them there.
So, I close my letter with heartfelt regards for you and also
for everyone who takes an interest in my letters.
With respect, your brother,
Wolf Lewkowicz
Heartfelt regards from Uncle Lazer, Aunt Estherl and cousins to
you and your family, sisters, in-laws, father, family, et al.
Please answer promptly.
All material Copyright 1995 by Marshall L. Zissman and Sol J. Zissman.